Sodium Sorbate (E201): What It Is and Is It Safe?
Sodium sorbate is the sodium salt of sorbic acid, an antimicrobial preservative effective against moulds and yeasts. Toxicologically it belongs to the sorbic acid group, which the body metabolises like a fatty acid and which carries a high acceptable daily intake. It is not included in the current EU/GB list of authorised additives, where sorbic acid E200 and potassium sorbate E202 are the permitted sorbates.
- Category
- Preservative — Antimicrobial
- Typically used in
- Historically an antimicrobial in cheeses, baked goods, and dressings; rarely used commercially today.
- Regulatory status
- Not listed in the EU/GB authorised additives list.
Scrannr flags Sodium Sorbate automatically when you scan a barcode.
Where this comes from
- Food Standards Agency (2024) — Approved additives and E numbers https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/approved-additives-and-e-numbers
Products containing Sodium Sorbate
We're building product pages that show real UK products containing Sodium Sorbate, using Open Food Facts data. They'll appear here soon — in the meantime, scan any barcode with the Scrannr app to check for it instantly.
Let Scrannr read the label.
Scan a barcode and get the additives flagged in plain English, plus a clear health score. Free to download.